The Upper and Middle Schools
Grades 9 - 12
The Upper School at Manlius Pebble Hill maintain a vibrant atmosphere in which students interact closely with teachers and administrators to enhance learning and to assure a positive educational experience for all.
The Upper School, Grades 9-12, challenges students to perform at the highest academic level and continues to build the self-esteem vital to academic and social success. Because MPH expects all Upper School students to graduate and proceed to college, classes are structured to develop communication and learning skills necessary for higher education. The Upper School faculty presents an extensive, broad-based liberal arts background and believes this to be the best preparation for college.
Courses of Study
Each Upper School student is required to carry five (5) academic courses each semester. Upper School students are offered many courses, some required and some elective. Schedule offerings are explained in depth before reenrollment. Student schedules are handled on an individual basis, are monitored by advisors, and are approved by the Head of Upper School. MPH expects students to take courses that challenge them, particularly in the Senior year.
Requirements for Graduation
A minimum of 23 credits must be earned for graduation. Students who have fulfilled all or most of the requirements prior to Twelfth Grade must continue to enroll in five academic courses each semester. The following courses are required to be taken in Grades 9-12:
English 4 credits World Language (in sequence) 3 credits
Physical Education 4 credits Fine/Performing Arts 1 credit
Mathematics 3 credits Computer Literacy ½ credit
History 3 credits Health ½ credit
Science 3 credits Electives 1 credit
TOTAL 23 credits
Annual Upper School Academic Requirements
MPH expects students to challenge themselves academically. Each student must take a minimum of five academic credits per year, not including some fine arts and physical education classes. An exception may be made if a student has scheduled AP courses and has received permission from the Head of Upper School.
Physical education is required each year for all students. A student may be exempted from a physical education class by playing a varsity sport for two full seasons.
Freshmen are encouraged to enroll in a fine arts course. Any remaining credit necessary for graduation can be taken any time during the next three Upper School years. MPH hopes that students take an art and/or a music course annually throughout their entire MPH school career, as these classes enrich the program as well as the individual. Students in Grade 9 may take an additional elective if approved by the Head of Upper School.
Sophomores are required to take one semester of health. It is recommended that a fine arts course be taken in the other semester.
The school offers a wide range of challenging electives for Grades 11 and 12. Students plan a schedule that stimulates thinking and exposes them to a wide range of academic offerings. Students in Grade 10 may be allowed into electives by permission of the teacher and the Head of Upper School.
Class Requirements
The following requirements must be met in order to be held in good standing for each Upper School grade level:
FRESHMAN - no unresolved failures at the Middle School level
SOPHOMORE - credit for Ninth Grade English, four other credits, no unresolved failures
JUNIOR - credit for Tenth Grade English, nine other credits, no unresolved failures
SENIOR - credit for Eleventh Grade English, 14 other credits, no unresolved failures
Academic Waivers
In unusual circumstances, a student may request a waiver of an academic requirement not mandated by the New York State Board of Regents. Students and their parents may initiate exemption through the appropriate Head who petitions the MPH Academic Council on their behalf.
Independent Study
Students interested in deeply exploring a topic outside the regular curriculum may be able to pursue independent study. A faculty member and the student must work together to prepare a proposal, which explains the topic, research methods and materials, and papers or projects to be generated by the study. The appropriate department chair and the Head of Upper School must approve the proposal. Credit for independent study is awarded by the Head of Upper School in relative accord with MPH regular coursework.
Through special arrangement with Onondaga Community College and Cazenovia College, Manlius Pebble Hill pays tuition for courses for advanced students. These courses may give both Upper School and college credit and are open to advanced students who cannot fit MPH courses into their schedule or who are interested in courses not offered by MPH. Any student interested in enrolling for an OCC or Cazenovia College course must first see the Head of Upper School for approval, details, and procedure.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement courses follow the established curriculum and offer students the opportunity to study a subject on an advanced level and to possibly earn college credit or higher placement. Enrollees in an Advanced Placement course are required to take the Advanced Placement examination given in May; however, by contract a student may take the course with an alternative course name with permission of the teacher.
Course Failures
All credit course failures in Grades 8-12 must be resolved in a manner acceptable to the School. Students and parents must confer with the Head of Middle School or the Head of Upper School as appropriate. Any failure should be resolved as soon as possible; a student is not permitted to graduate with any unresolved course failure.
In Grades 6 and 7, all Mathematics and English failures must be resolved. The teacher, in conjunction with the Middle School Head, determines requirements for additional work for failures in other courses.
Incompletes
An “incomplete” may be given by a teacher when unusual circumstances (such as illness) prevent a student from completing work during a specific marking period. Students have three weeks from the end of the marking period to finish incomplete work (July 1 for the last marking period). All work not completed by that time receives a zero and may result in failure for the term.
Course Changes and Withdrawals
Course changes or withdrawals require approval from the student's advisor, teacher, parent and the appropriate Head. After a marking period grade is given, any course that is dropped is noted on official school transcripts as “withdrawn.” Movement from an honors section to a regular section is not considered a “withdrawal,” and only the section to which the student moves is placed on the transcript.
Marking System
Two marks are given in each course: one for achievement and one for effort.
Achievement marks are as follows: A - Superior B - Above average
B - Above Average
C - Average
D - Passing
F - Failure
Effort marks signify the following: 1 - Superior
2 - Satisfactory
3 - Unsatisfactory
4 - Seriously deficient
Each semester is divided into two marking periods of approximately eight weeks each. Grades are given four times a year, with progress reports given for selected students at each mid-marking period. In one-semester courses, a final assessment is given; in year-long courses, semester exams may be given. Final exams of two hours duration, or an equivalent assessment, are required in all academic subjects in the Upper School. Middle School courses end with one-and-a-half hour final exams or an equivalent assessment.
Grade Averages
Teachers may record daily progress numerically, but percentages are transposed to letter grades on the report card. The highest possible grade is A+ (100); the minimum passing grade is D- (60).
To compute grade averages, the following 15-point scale is used:
A+ = 15 B+ = 12 C+ = 9 D+ = 6 F = 0
A = 14 B = 11 C = 8 D = 5
A- = 13 B- = 10 C- = 7 D- = 4
A student's final average is computed as follows:
Whole-year Final Average = 1st MP + 2nd MP + 3rd MP + 4th MP + Final Assessment
5
OR
Semester Final Average = 1st MP (40%) + 2nd MP (40%) + Final Assessment (20%)
Example: First marking period: D (5)
Second marking period: B+ (12)
Third marking period: A- (13)
Fourth marking period: A (14)
Final assessment: B (11)
5 + 12 + 13 + 14 + 11 = 11 FINAL GRADE: B
The teacher has the sole discretion of which letter grade to award if a student's average falls between two numerical grades on the 0-15 scale. Final assessments for all courses, semester and whole-year, count as twenty percent (20%) of the course grade.
Progress Reports
In addition to grades, progress reports are sent to select students at the mid-point of each marking period, noting outstanding progress, impending failure, or any other significant change. Teachers and parents are also encouraged to keep in touch with each other by telephone or e-mail as frequently as possible about individual student needs and progress.
Academic Honors
THE HONOR ROLL - students who meet the following requirements are placed on the Honor Roll each marking period:
Summa Cum Laude - An “A” average (13.5) with no grade below a “B.”
Magna Cum Laude - An academic average of "B+" (12.0) with no grade below a “B-.”
Cum Laude - A “B” average (10.5) with no grade below “C+.”
Effort Honors - A 1.75 average on the four-point scale with no grade below a “2.”
An “Incomplete” makes a student ineligible for the Honor Roll until the incomplete is resolved.
HONOR STUDY DAYS - Upper School students whose names appear on the Honor Roll for effort and achievement are eligible for one Honor Study Day the following marking period to pursue educational activities off-campus. Students who achieve Summa Cum Laude and Effort Honors are eligible for two days. Honor Study Days must be approved by all of the student’s teachers and the Head of Upper School, on a special form available in the Upper School office, at least one week in advance.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY - Election of students to National Honor Society occurs in Grades 11 and 12. Membership does carry responsibilities, which are explained early in the school year, as are criteria for consideration and procedures of election. The advisor to the NHS meets with members throughout the year to determine that their academic work, service, and behavior continually meet the standards of the Society.
AWARDS - Each year academic achievement and service awards are given to outstanding students. Upper School students receive awards during assembly and commencement ceremonies; Middle School student awards are distributed during Middle School closing ceremonies.
Homework
Homework is assigned either as preparation for classroom activities or as practice, supplement, or review of skills learned during class. Research papers or other projects may demand a considerable amount of out-of-class time.
Teachers frequently set aside time to be sure that assignments are understood. Time during study halls, free periods, and tutorials is available for completing homework assignments, an integral part of school life.
Homework in the Middle School varies from class to class, with the amount of time required to complete assignments becoming greater as students progress from Sixth to Seventh to Eighth Grade. Middle School students are required to maintain a plan book, which should contain all required assignments.
Upper School students should expect homework at least equal to class time. Grade Nine students are expected to maintain a plan book with teacher monitoring. Even if a student is absent from class, he or she is responsible for homework assignments, which can be obtained by calling the Middle or Upper School office, by contacting the teacher directly, or by checking the teacher's website. Requests for homework must be made in the morning to allow staff sufficient time to gather assignments that may be sent home with a friend or given over the phone in the afternoon. Homework is available for some classes via the MPH Internet.
Tutorial and Extra Help
A regular tutorial period is scheduled to give students ample opportunity to obtain additional help with studies. Teachers are available during most tutorials and are also available after school to meet at mutually convenient times. Students are expected to report to the assigned tutorial at the beginning of the period and to use the tutorial period and the after-school meetings wisely so that they do not fall behind in class. Inappropriate use of a tutorial period or failure to attend a scheduled meeting with a teacher during tutorial is viewed as a class cut. Students gather with their advisors at the start of each tutorial on Days 2, 4, 5, and 6 (students attend assembly on Day 1 and class meetings on Day 3).
Standardized Tests
Once each year, all students in Grade 9 are expected to participate in tests supplied by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Testing results from MPH students are compared with those of many other prestigious independent schools throughout the country, as well as many public schools. The Upper School Head receives the results of the tests, and parents can make an appointment to review individual scores. These test results are used by teachers and administrators to help students in their individual academic growth and should be taken seriously by students.
Graduation
Seniors who meet all graduation requirements participate in commencement exercises in early June. A student who has not met all requirements, but who in September began a course of study that should have fulfilled the requirements, may participate in the ceremony. However, a diploma is not awarded until all requirements are met. International and 13th Year students participate in the exercises, although they do not ordinarily receive an MPH diploma.
Transcripts
Official, signed transcripts are mailed directly to other academic institutions by the School upon request. Unofficial (unsigned) transcripts are always available in the College Services Office. One week is necessary for processing. Courses of study completed in schools outside of the normal school year may be added to transcripts on request, but are not itemized as Manlius Pebble Hill School credits.
Textbooks and Art Fees
The school provides textbooks for all courses and parents are billed according to use. Students taking art courses may be charged a minimal materials fee.
Class Trips
Grades 6-12 each participate in an overnight (usually three-day) class trip each fall. These experiences are considered part of the curriculum and are required of all students. Students are billed for shared expenses for these class trips unless officially excused from participating by the Middle or Upper School Head. The Senior Class Trip requires advanced reservations for individual tickets; therefore, Seniors are billed for those pre-paid tickets whether or not the student attends the trip.